Thumbs Down To Fraud

Thumbs down on Connecticut's rash of less-than-honest public servants.

What is it with Connecticut's rash of wrongdoing public servants? Thumbs down to the state employee who was charged with fraud for lying about his assets on an application to refinance his home mortgage. This state employee manages fraud investigations for the state welfare department. He's accused of forging phony pay stubs and reporting an annual income of about $55,000, when he was earning about $77,000, according to the arrest warrant. He is on paid leave.

Thumbs up to the new Connecticut Public Corruption Task Force, which did the work on this case. It includes an array of federal investigators whose job is to fight corruption in Connecticut. Too bad it's so badly needed.

Thumbs up to the Superior Court judge who denied a special form of probation to former Hebron school Superintendent Eleanor Cruz. Granting her accelerated rehabilitation would have caused the felony charge against Ms. Cruz to be eventually dismissed. She misappropriated thousands of dollars from the schools to pay for her online purchases, high-end restaurant meals and more. Her lawyer said she mistook the school credit card for her own. Please.